Plans to create one super school, merging Our Lady of Dolours and St Mary of the Angels Catholic Primary Schools. The chairs of governors from the schools sent a letter to parents in December 2022 outlining the merger, aimed at addressing declining pupil numbers and financial difficulties faced by both institutions.
Instead, the proposal recommends closing Our Lady of Dolours and merging those families with St Mary of the Angels. Currently, St Mary of the Angels is running over 80% capacity. Now, as of October 2024, Our Lady of Dolours is open at just 54 percent capacity. This battle has resulted in a projected loss of £550,000 this year. St Mary of the Angels has felt the financial pressure, with a reported deficit of £186,000.
One of the reasons named for the union of the two Catholic primary schools. Barrow Hill Junior School, George Eliot and Robinsfield will merge into one school to create a new St John’s Wood Primary School. Barrow Hill Junior School is currently running at 82% capacity, George Eliot at 85% capacity and Robinsfield is at 75% capacity.
The controversial merger proposal have caused an outpouring of opposition from parents, community members. You can add your name to a growing petition urging CBA to drop the merger. It argues that the consolidated schools would be 130% over capacity, forcing students into overcrowded classrooms and compromising the quality of their education.
“The proposed amalgamation would push our school to operate at 130% capacity, leading to crowded classrooms and a likely decrease in the quality of learning.” – Petition opposing the move
In a recent consultation on the proposed merger, an overwhelming 83 % of respondents said they opposed the plan. We have heard from a host of parents who are deeply concerned about capacity. They are worried about how these changes will affect the school’s community and culture. Less than half of the students now attending Our Lady of Dolours attend Mass as Catholics. This alarming statistic paints a large picture of what’s happening within the school environment.
The chairs of governors acknowledged that the merger “will bring about some changes and perhaps a level of uncertainty” for families and staff alike. Stakeholder concerns over the effect of the merger continue to grow. What they’re afraid of, though, is that it means blowing up the educational experiences of those kids forever.
Yet as talks continue, both colleges are under increasing scrutiny to address their dire fiscal situations. They need to consider how their decisions could improve—or harm—their communities. The future of this potential merger is still up in the air as parents, teachers, and community members continue to wait for news.
